Patent GB-211137-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to calculating machines
IPC: G06F7/44
Filed: 1924-02-06
Abstract: 211,137. Collett & Co. Aktieselskabet, O. Feb. 6, 1923, [Convention date]. Adding and subtracting apparatus.-In a single keybank machine having a corresponding number of elements which serve for recording, as by means of perforations, the setting of the items effected by the keys, each key is adapted to be connected to actuate any recording element, and each key is provided with a corresponding number of connecting elements, the selected one of which is controlled by means of the recording element actuated by the same denominational key of the item previously set. As shown applied to :an electrically-operated adding and subtracting machine, the keys A, Fig. 1, are in circuit with a battery B and corresponding electromagnets F, the armatures G of which are connected through bell-crank levers H to contact rods I associated with an upper and lower set of ten electric conductor leads. The upper set g is connected with corresponding recording elements d, which, as shown in Fig. 4, comprise electromagnets o, lever-armatures, and punch rods l that are adapted to perforate the record strip D; the lower set of leads e is connected to spring contact members n arranged above the record strip and adapted, through the perforations made in the strip, to co-operate with a conducting-base E. The n contact leads for the numeral key 1 are arranged so that they connect with the recording element leads for a numeral which is one greater than that of the corresponding contact lead. For the numeral key 2 the connection is with the lead for the numeral which is two greater and so on. A printing attachment C controlled by a key K is provided to produce, a permanent record of the result of the calculation resulting from the perforations. The record strip D is controlled by a spring motor and is advanced one step for each key depressed by means of an escapement x actuated by the excitation of an electromagnet y through contacts z and a key bail. The contacts n are spaced from the recording elements d in accordance with the number of digits in the greatest number to be dealt with. In operation a denomination-selecting or tabulating key " TA, " which is connected to the " O " perforation recorder d, is depressed as many times as the item has digits, so as to perforate the record strip with that number of holes in the zero column, thereupon the numeral keys are depressed to cause holes to be punched in the appropriate columns as the strip advances step by step and each zero perforation renders a lead alive. Depression of the keys appropriate to the second number causes the strip to advance, and as each of the new perforations comes under the contact n an appropriate lead is made alive to effect a new perforation whereby the, result of the addition is obtained automatically. For effecting subtraction two reversing switches are provided. one of which S serves to throw the conductor leads from the contact elements n to the recording elements d and vice-versa; the other switch Ts throws a recording element M<2>, associated with the transfer mechanism, from the " 9 " recording element d to the " zero " lead. Transfer mechanism.-For the purpose of effecting the necessary transfers to obtain the correct result the connecting leads, which are controlled by the electromagnets F, and whose value when added to the corresponding key value is a number greater than " 9," are each provided with an electromagnet L, the cover of which is conductively connected to the corresponding lead, the armatures being connected in parallel to a common lead N connected with a recording element M<1> adapted to perforate the record strip. A second recording element M<2> is normally arranged in the circuit of the " 9 " recording element d, and is employed for preparing the record for a number containing a series of nines. Associated with the elements M<1>, M<2> are two series of contacts m<1>, m<2> arranged above the record strip and adapted to co-operate respectively with the conducting base E and a set of insulated contact plates R. Each of the plates R is connected to the contact m<1>, which is one step above it and the two lowermost contacts m<1>, m<2> are also connected. By means of this arrangement, when a contact m<1> or contact m<1>, m<2> passes through a perforation an electromagnet 0 is energized so that its armature causes the leads from the contacts n to be put into connection with the next higher numeral lead of the printing attachment C. Multiplying and dividing apparatus.-For effecting calculations according to the four rules four sets of conducting leads I - - IV, Fig. 2, are employed. The leads are shown as grouped by the heavy lines in the Figure, and those numbered I, II are similar to those described above in connection with Fig. 1; the leads III, IV are connected up in accordance with the units and tens respectively of the partial products of the digits. Two sets of keys A, V are provided which are associated with the adding or subtracting group and the multiplying or dividing group respectively, and with appropriate recording elements and contact elements on the left- and right-hand portions of the recording strip. The first of the two sets of contact elements at the right-hand side co-operates with the group IV and the lower set with the group III. An example of the method of effecting multiplications is described in the Specification-